Double standards: The "Arrogant and Cocky" edition

Following some cropped quotes and bad reporting by Dana Milbank of The Washington Post and a blatantly dishonest ad from Sen. John McCain, the punditocracy has been endlessly echoing the charge that Obama is presumptuous and getting too full of himself.

This is the same beltway media that had no problem with ego and couldn't stop fawning over George W. Bush's most over-the-top moment — the carrier landing stunt five years ago.

Never mind that a large segment of the country found it tasteless:

MSNBC's Chris Matthews:

And that's the president looking very much like a jet, you know, a high-flying jet star

Ann Coulter (to Matthews):

It's tremendous. It's hard to imagine any Democrat being able to do that. And it doesn't matter if Democrats try to ridicule it. It's stunning, and it speaks for itself.

NBC's Brian Williams:

He's a youthful guy. He looked terrific and full of energy in a flight suit.

The New York Times, sounding like a bad dime store novel:

He hopped out of the plane with a helmet tucked under his arm and walked across the flight deck with a swagger that seemed to suggest he had seen Top Gun. Clearly in his element, he was swarmed by cheering members of the Lincoln's crew.

CBS' Bob Schieffer:

As far as I'm concerned, that was one of the great pictures of all time.

Margaret Carlson:

It was so well done, and even though we knew that everything was choreographed down to, you know, catching that fourth hook on the ship, it was still a pretty stirring tableau. Cecil B. DeMille couldn't have been done better. And even though you know there's no Santa Claus, Christmas is still great, as it was with that particular moment.

I don't think I need to mention that the charges against Obama are baseless and just the latest in the attempt by the GOP to turn the race away from issues and to personality-based voting.

Still, it's interesting how the talking heads are suddenly big fans of the humble approach to politics.